The Cubs have acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from the Rays, in keeping with Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions (X hyperlink). Christopher Morel headlines a three-player package deal heading again to Tampa in return, as per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, with two prospects additionally included. These two youthful gamers are right-handers Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma studies.
Paredes has been a well-liked determine in commerce rumors in current days, with such groups because the Dodgers, Astros, Rangers, and Mariners all linked to the All-Star. As an alternative, a extra shocking suitor has gained the bidding, as Paredes will as an alternative go to a Cubs workforce that sits in final place within the NL Central with a 50-56 report.
Nonetheless, it isn’t solely shocking that the Cubs have made such a daring transfer, because the workforce is clearly aiming to contend in 2025 after stumbling to their disappointing end result this yr. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer mentioned earlier this week that the Cubs’ deadline strikes can be made with an eye fixed in direction of competing subsequent season versus making a late run now, although Paredes is actually a lift to Chicago’s lineup proper now.
There are additionally some long-term ties at play, since Paredes started his professional profession as a global signing for the Cubs again in 2015. He was moved together with Jeimer Candelario to the Tigers on the 2017 deadline within the commerce that introduced Alex Avila and Justin Wilson to Chicago, and Paredes made his MLB debut in a Detroit uniform in 2020.
Acquired in a commerce with the Tigers early within the 2022 season, Paredes emerged as a really productive common over his three years in Tampa. He has a 129 wRC+ over his 1377 plate appearances in a Rays uniform, highlighted by a 31-homer season in 2023 and an All-Star look this yr. Regardless of a current hunch, Paredes continues to be hitting .247/.355/.438 with 16 residence runs this season, throughout 425 PA whereas getting common work at each nook infield spots.
Most of that work got here at third base, and Paredes figures to take proper over from Morel on the scorching nook at Wrigley Area. Paredes’ glovework as a 3rd baseman has been extra strong than excellent, but even common protection is a giant improve from Morel, whose struggles within the discipline have been effectively documented. The precise-handed hitting Paredes may additionally spell Michael Busch (a lefty-swinger) at first base when a tricky southpaw is on the mound, and Paredes additionally has a great deal of expertise at second base, though the Rays have used him solely within the nook infield spots in 2024. On paper, nonetheless, the Cubs have already got their 2025 beginning infield set, with Paredes at third base, Busch at first, Nico Hoerner at second base, and Dansby Swanson at shortstop.
Infielders Matt Shaw and James Triantos are two of Chicago’s high prospects, so their arrival in a yr or two may additional shake up the Cubs’ infield image and maybe the place Paredes finally finally ends up across the diamond. In maybe the important thing ingredient of right this moment’s commerce, the Cubs have loads of time to determine this all out, as Paredes is underneath arbitration management by means of the 2027 season. Paredes is incomes a $3.4MM wage this yr, within the first of 4 arb-eligible seasons through his Tremendous Two standing.
Regardless that Paredes was solely simply beginning his journeys by means of the arb course of, that escalating price ticket certainly factored into the Rays’ resolution to half methods with a controllable, productive participant who continues to be simply 25 years outdated. With payroll at all times a priority in Tampa, the Rays have by no means shied away from promoting excessive on a participant earlier than his price ticket turns into too onerous for the group, as a part of the Rays’ fixed churn of changing pricier gamers for cheaper choices that may present related or higher manufacturing.
This technique has been on full show for the reason that begin of July, as Tampa Bay has now moved Paredes, Randy Arozarena, Jason Adam, Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, and Phil Maton within the final 4 weeks. This blitz of trades figures to proceed proper up till the July thirtieth deadline, and such names as Yandy Diaz and Pete Fairbanks have additionally been talked about as potential commerce candidates. All of those strikes have come even though the Rays are nonetheless taking part in strong baseball, as their 54-52 report has them solely 3.5 video games out of the ultimate AL wild card berth.
Extra to return…
